Machine for accumulating edgewise supported articles

Abstract

A machine for forming a slug of edgewise supported flat articles. The machine includes a table above which the articles of the slug are accumulated. Paired conveyor belt means advance the articles in shingle fashion past an edge of the table. One of the belt means has a portion parallel to and at substantially the level of the table for rapidly advancing lower edges of the articles away from the other of the belt means and onto the table. An upper backstop supports the articles on the table and on said belt portion. The articles are urged toward the backstop means to form the slug. The upper backstop is advanced from said edge of the table as the slug of articles forms on the table. Control of the slug is transferred from the upper backstop to an auxiliary backstop. Upright fingers are advanced into engagement with a last article in the slug so that the slug is held between the fingers and the auxiliary backstop. The fingers and the auxiliary backstop are advanced in unison to advance the stack to a discharge station.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A machine for forming a slug of edgewise supported flat articles which comprises a table, paired conveyor belt means advancing the articles in shingle fashion past an edge of the table, one of the belt means having a portion parallel to and at substantially the level of the table for rapidly advancing lower edges of the articles away from the other of the belt means and onto the table, an upper backstop means supporting the articles on the table and on said belt portion, means urging the articles toward the upper backstop means to form the slug, means for advancing the upper backstop means away from said edge of the table as the slug of articles forms on the table, means for arresting advance of articles to the slug when the slug reaches a predetermined size, an auxiliary backstop means, means for transferring control of the slug from the upper backstop means to the auxiliary backstop means, upright finger means advanceable into engagement with a last article in the slug, and means for advancing the finger means and the auxiliary backstop means in unison to advance the slug to a discharge station. 
     
     
       2. A machine as in claim 1 which includes means for advancing the slug sidewise of the fingers and of the backstop means when the slug is at the discharge station to discharge the slug. 
     
     
       3. A machine as in claim 1 in which the articles are advanced upwardly by the paired conveyor belt means from below the level of the table to a position extending upwardly of the level of the table and said one of the belt means turns from an upward direction to a horizontal direction at the portion parallel to and at substantially the level of the table. 
     
     
       4. A machine as in claim 3 in which the machine includes roller means engageable with the last article of the slug to advance said last article onto the portion of said one of the belt means parallel to and at substantially the level of the table, means for raising the finger means, the finger means having ramp means engageable with the roller means to urge the roller means away from the slug when the fingers are raised and means for retracting the roller means when articles other than the last article approach the slug. 
     
     
       5. A machine as in claim 1 in which there is means for returning the upper backstop means to an initial article supporting position when control of the slug has been transferred from the upper backstop means to the auxiliary backstop means and for advancing further articles toward the upper backstop means to form a second slug of articles while the first slug is being advanced. 
     
     
       6. A machine for forming a slug of edgewise supported flat articles which comprises a table, paired conveyor belt means advancing the articles in shingle fashion past an edge of the table, one of the belt means having a portion parallel to and at substantially the level of the table for rapidly advancing lower edges of the articles away from the other of the belt means and onto the table, an upper backstop means supporting the articles on the table and on said belt portion, means urging the articles toward the upper backstop means to form the slug, means for advancing the upper backstop means away from said edge of the table as the slug of articles forms on the table, means for arresting advance of articles to the slug when the slug reaches a predetermined size, an auxiliary backstop means, means for transferring control of the slug from the upper backstop means to the auxiliary backstop means, upright finger means advanceable into engagement with a last article in the slug, roller means engageable with the last article of the slug to advance said last article onto the portion of said one of the belt means parallel to and at substantially the level of the table, means for withdrawing the roller means when articles other than the last article approach the slug, and means for advancing the finger means and the auxiliary backstop means in unison to advance the slug to a discharge station.